The following are the notes I took from a recent sermon while at the Evangelical Free Church in Kamloops. As they are notes, they are more shorthand than fill out sermon, but the point of the message I believe is still prevalent. It was a guest speaker, but I honestly don't remember his name or I would give him full credit! He's with Evangelical Free Church of Canada in some capacity... :-P
Most of us understand metaphors. The scripture is full of metaphors.
1st Metaphor: Isaiah 64:8 - The potter andthe clay.
God is a great, perfect designer. His creation is as perfect and beautiful as was his intent. What we can get from this is that when we don't understand life, God does. God gets it. Rom. 9:21, does not the potter have the right to make some pots for noble purposes and others for common use? What right does a pot have to complain to the potter?
2nd Metaphor: Ezek. 34:12 - Shepherd and the sheep.
God's committed to us, to our well being. There's a sense of ongoing commitment. Sheep are pretty pathetic little animals. Without a shepherd, they will get into all sorts of dangers and troubles. There is a security here for us, as well as a reminder. Not only am I not capable of living without God, but I wasn't designed to do so!
4th Metaphor: Jer. 3:19 - Father and Sons.
Here's an even stronger commitment from God to us. We are not just sheep in his flock, we are his children. How gladly would I treat you as my children! We've all been children. We understand the relationship between a child and a parent. They need someone to make decisions for them, even ones they may not like. A child doesn't know everything that is going on, whereas a father does. Sometimes children need discipline, but that doesn't take anything away from this metaphor.
5th Metaphor: John 15:15 - Friends
Jesus called them friends, no longer servants to a master. There are things that a father and son won't share. But friends open up to each other, rely on each other. They trust each other. God wants to be our friend. And the good news is, he already knows everything that's going on in our life! God wants more from me.
6th Metaphor: Rev. 19:4 - Bride and bridegroom.
This final metaphor shows us how intimate God wants to be with us. Not just our creator, not just our protector, not just our Father, not even just our friend, but our bridegroom!
Separately all these metaphors teach us many things about the relationship God wants with us. They also show a growing progression. The final metaphor he gives us is the most intimate. Where you are on this progression will define the relationship you are in right now. It's not what you know your mind about these metaphors that's important, it's what you believe that controls how you live and the choices you make.
God gave us these metaphors so that we would understand the relationship God want to have with us. Can we believe these with our hearts?
If all we believe is that we are a pot, we will struggle with low self worth. What relationship does a pot have with its potter?
If all we believe is that we are sheep, we can at least interact with God. But it's still a one way relationship. How meaningful relationship can a sheep have with its shepherd?
But if you can believe he's your father, now there's communication. The same species, even. But there is still issues with this relationship. Many have poor examples of this relationship. But this is a good metaphor, a good step.
But if you can get to the friendship metaphor, if you can believe this with your heart, then it is a really good thing. Having this type of relationship is worth gold.
But the best relationship anyone can have us the bride and bridegroom. There is an intimacy there found nowhere else.
There is always a gap between what I know this relationship could and should be and what it actually is. Why? Because I have built a fence, a wall. I've believed a lie from the enemy that getting too close isn't a good thing. God will demand to much from us. He will send us where we don't want to go, make us do what we don't want to do.
Why do we believe the father of lies rather than the father or truth? God wants us to come to him, to have an intimate relationship with him.
Where are you in this progression? What step are you standing on?
Move up. Move closer.
God sends us his word to transform our lives. He wants us to come closer. Do not listen to the enemy who says he's someone to be feared. Don't be afraid. God loves us, he doesn't want to hurt us, he wants to protect us, to develop us. God is a patient God, and he doesn't force us into places.
God is inviting us to come closer, do we trust him?
Most of us understand metaphors. The scripture is full of metaphors.
1st Metaphor: Isaiah 64:8 - The potter andthe clay.
God is a great, perfect designer. His creation is as perfect and beautiful as was his intent. What we can get from this is that when we don't understand life, God does. God gets it. Rom. 9:21, does not the potter have the right to make some pots for noble purposes and others for common use? What right does a pot have to complain to the potter?
2nd Metaphor: Ezek. 34:12 - Shepherd and the sheep.
God's committed to us, to our well being. There's a sense of ongoing commitment. Sheep are pretty pathetic little animals. Without a shepherd, they will get into all sorts of dangers and troubles. There is a security here for us, as well as a reminder. Not only am I not capable of living without God, but I wasn't designed to do so!
4th Metaphor: Jer. 3:19 - Father and Sons.
Here's an even stronger commitment from God to us. We are not just sheep in his flock, we are his children. How gladly would I treat you as my children! We've all been children. We understand the relationship between a child and a parent. They need someone to make decisions for them, even ones they may not like. A child doesn't know everything that is going on, whereas a father does. Sometimes children need discipline, but that doesn't take anything away from this metaphor.
5th Metaphor: John 15:15 - Friends
Jesus called them friends, no longer servants to a master. There are things that a father and son won't share. But friends open up to each other, rely on each other. They trust each other. God wants to be our friend. And the good news is, he already knows everything that's going on in our life! God wants more from me.
6th Metaphor: Rev. 19:4 - Bride and bridegroom.
This final metaphor shows us how intimate God wants to be with us. Not just our creator, not just our protector, not just our Father, not even just our friend, but our bridegroom!
Separately all these metaphors teach us many things about the relationship God wants with us. They also show a growing progression. The final metaphor he gives us is the most intimate. Where you are on this progression will define the relationship you are in right now. It's not what you know your mind about these metaphors that's important, it's what you believe that controls how you live and the choices you make.
God gave us these metaphors so that we would understand the relationship God want to have with us. Can we believe these with our hearts?
If all we believe is that we are a pot, we will struggle with low self worth. What relationship does a pot have with its potter?
If all we believe is that we are sheep, we can at least interact with God. But it's still a one way relationship. How meaningful relationship can a sheep have with its shepherd?
But if you can believe he's your father, now there's communication. The same species, even. But there is still issues with this relationship. Many have poor examples of this relationship. But this is a good metaphor, a good step.
But if you can get to the friendship metaphor, if you can believe this with your heart, then it is a really good thing. Having this type of relationship is worth gold.
But the best relationship anyone can have us the bride and bridegroom. There is an intimacy there found nowhere else.
There is always a gap between what I know this relationship could and should be and what it actually is. Why? Because I have built a fence, a wall. I've believed a lie from the enemy that getting too close isn't a good thing. God will demand to much from us. He will send us where we don't want to go, make us do what we don't want to do.
Why do we believe the father of lies rather than the father or truth? God wants us to come to him, to have an intimate relationship with him.
Where are you in this progression? What step are you standing on?
Move up. Move closer.
God sends us his word to transform our lives. He wants us to come closer. Do not listen to the enemy who says he's someone to be feared. Don't be afraid. God loves us, he doesn't want to hurt us, he wants to protect us, to develop us. God is a patient God, and he doesn't force us into places.
God is inviting us to come closer, do we trust him?
